Act II- Summarys and commentary.


By Adrianna Cutis


Scene 1
In the beggining of this scene, King Edward IV , who at this time is very sick enters with his family and his associates. He then announces that he thinks that there is too much hatred and fighting going on and he demands that everyone apologize and make up. He directs this by ordering who apologizes to who and whom they must shake hands with. He also forces Buckingham & Hastings, with great pressure to make up with their rival family, Queen Elizabeth and her right hand men , Dorset, Gray and Rivers. He tells Dorset and Hastings to make up and embrace , he tells them to express there affection. Then out of nowhere Richard III enters and is directed to make amends with the queen, but as they are doing so, she asks Richard to bring Clarence and at this time Richard interupts and tells them about his death. He says "who knows that the gentle duke is dead", but inside he knows that no one has heard about this because he was the one who rebounded the letter for Clarence to be killed, Richard III knows that he is the reason that his brother is dead, but he lets Edward take all the blame and guilt.

Scene 2.
This scene starts with the Duchess of York caressing and comforting Clarence's children, she is obviously deeply mourning but for the children ,she claims that she is worried about Edward's ongoing bad health. She also lies to the children when they ask her about there father and what happened because she doesn't want them to know the truth and be sad. She becomes very regretful that she ever gave birth to Richard which is a famous part of the play because she wishes she had never conceived him, she knows how evil her son is and can't stand it. Shortly after this Elizabeth runs in , in distress and announces that King Edward had just died and both herself and the dutchess mourn together. Shortly after this Richard brings up the soon to be king, Young Prince Edward and he advises them to take him to London were it would be safer and more comfortable. All this turns out to be a lie, he just wants to get the prince there so he can separate the family and take the throne.

Scene 3.
The atmosphere of this scene is based on the citizens of England in the 15th century and their opinions about the upcoming ruler.First they discuss King Edward's death and then they discuss about the future of the royalty. They know that the rival families will always be trying to seize the thrown and citizens are worried the power will land in the wrong hands.They tell each other how they are certain that the Young Prince will be killed by Richard and then his vicious evil plans will start to unravel.

Scene 4.
The last scene of Act 2 is full of fear and evil. It starts of with Elizabeth finding out that her right hand men , Rivers and Gray have been taken to Pomfret, a fearful prison were less of the prisoners survive than actually get out. She has her suspicions that Richard has planned this so he can decrease her family and obviously their power. She realises this and then decides that the only thing she can do to escape this is flee with her youngest son and go to the sanctuary where Richard is supposedly not allowed to get them from.